Blackberry plant named ‘FNZ-8VB’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Blackberry named ‘FNZ-8VB’ that is characterized by its thornless canes, its firm berries that are medium large in size, its 3 leaflets per leaf, its berries with flavor and quality suitable for the fresh fruit market, and its spreading growth habit.

Botanical classification: Rubus subg. rubus.

Cultivar designation: ‘FNZ-8VB’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is co-pending with a U.S. Plant Patent Applicationfiled for a plant derived from the same breeding program that isentitled Rubus Plant Named ‘BWP-FNZ6VB’ (U.S. Plant patent applicationSer. No. 16/350,869).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofblackberry plant, botanically known as Rubus subg. Rubus ‘FNZ-8VB’ andwill be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘FNZ-8VB’.‘FNZ-8VB’ is a new blackberry plant grown for fruit production.

The new cultivar originated from an ongoing breeding program by theInventor in Faversham, Kent, United Kingdom. ‘FNZ-8VB’ arose from across made between ‘Waldo’ (not patented) as the female parent and‘Karaka Black’ as the male parent (not patented). ‘FNZ-8VB’ was selectedas a single unique plant in from amongst the seedlings from the abovecross in July of 2013.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor by bud and cane cuttings in winter of 2013 in Faversham, Kent,United Kingdom. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by bud and canecuttings and tissue culture using meristem tissue has shown that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant less than one year prior to theeffective filing date would have been obtained from a direct or indirectdisclosure from the Inventor under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘FNZ-8VB’ as a new and unique cultivar of Rubus.

-   -   1. ‘FNZ-8VB’ exhibits thornless canes.    -   2. ‘FNZ-8VB’ exhibits firm berries that are medium large in        size.    -   3. ‘FNZ-8VB’ exhibits 3 leaflets per leaf.    -   4. ‘FNZ-8VB’ exhibits berries with flavor and quality suitable        for the fresh fruit market.    -   5. ‘FNZ-8VB’ exhibits a spreading growth habit.

The female parent of ‘FNZ-8VB’, ‘Waldo’, differs from ‘FNZ-8VB’ inhaving fruit that is suitable from processing but not for the freshfruit market and in having a more vigorous growth habit. The male parentof ‘FNZ-8VB’, ‘Karaka Black’, differs from ‘FNZ-8VB’ in having 7leaflets per leaf and in having some cane spines. ‘FNZ-8VB’ can also becompared to the cultivars ‘Loch Ness’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,782) and‘BWP-FNZ6VB’. ‘Loch Ness’ differs from ‘FNZ-8VB’ in having fruit thatare smaller in size (medium) and in having an upright growth habit.‘BWP-FNZ6VB’ differs from ‘FNZ-8VB’ in having canes with thorns and inproducing flowers and fruit earlier in the season.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Rubus. The photographs weretaken of a plant 2 years in age as grown in a poly tunnel in a 22-cmsquare container in Faversham, Kent, United Kingdom.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of a section of canes lackingspines of ‘FNZ-8VB’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of flowers of‘FNZ-8VB’ in various stages of development.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a view of berries of ‘FNZ-8VB’ invarious stages of development.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized. The colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Rubus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants 2 years in age asgrown in a poly tunnel in 22-cm square containers in Faversham, Kent,United Kingdom. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as ithas not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. Thecolor determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Plant type.—Fruit producing perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Spreading.        -   Height and spread.—1.5 m to 2.2 m in height and in spread if            not tied up as a 2 year-old plant as grown in a 10-liter            container.        -   Hardiness.—This trait has not been fully characterized in a            range of cold weather climates but the plants can            successfully grow in central Europe (U. K. Hardiness Zone            9).        -   Diseases and pests.—No resistance or susceptibility to pests            or diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental stresses.—No resistance or susceptibility to            drought, high temperatures, or water logging has been            observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Bud cuttings, cane cuttings or tissue culture.        -   Root development.—An average of 3 weeks to root from a            cutting, an average of 3 months to fully develop as a young            plant with a cane of 2 m reached in about 10 months.        -   Growth rate.—Good vigor.-   Cane description:    -   -   Fruit presence.—On floricanes only.        -   Fruiting lateral canes.—26.5 cm in length, strong in            strength (observed on full-grown shoot after picking),            moderately glaucous on full grown shoots after picking.        -   Cane internode length.—5.8 cm.        -   Young shoots.—1 or less, emerge in late June, 137B in color            with weak anthocyanin 166A, sparsely covered with glandular            hairs.        -   Dormant cane.—1.5 to 2.2 m in length, an average of 7.3 mm            in width in mid-section, 143C in color with moderate            anthocyanin 183B on about half of cane, angular in cross            section, surface glossy, thornless.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Time of vegetative bud burst.—April in The United Kingdom.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf division.—Compound; 3 leaflets.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf orientation.—Strongly concave (margins rolled upwards).        -   Leaflet shape.—Round to ovate.        -   Leaflet base.—Truncate.        -   Leaflet apex.—Acute on lateral leaflets and acuminate on            terminal leaflets.        -   Leaflet margins.—Bi-serrate, lobing absent.        -   Leaflet arrangement.—One terminal and 1 lateral pair.        -   Leaflet attachment.—Primarily sessile.        -   Leaflet surface.—Upper and lower surface rugose, medium            undulation of margin, weak blistering between veins,            glabrous matt on both surfaces.        -   Leaflet color.—NN137A on upper surface and 137B on lower            surface.        -   Leaflet size.—Lateral leaflets; an average of 8.34 cm in            length and 5.8 cm in width, length/width ratio 1.4, terminal            leaflet; an average of 9.8 cm in length and 7 mm in width,            length/width ratio 1.4.        -   Petioles.—Round in shape, an average of 5.74 cm in length            and 2.1 mm in width, color; upper surface pigmented with            175A, strong.        -   Rachis.—Round in shape, an average of 2.22 cm between            terminal leaflet and lateral leaflets.        -   Stipules.—1 to 2 per petiole, elongated in shape, an average            of 6.2 mm in length and 0.63 mm in width, upwards            orientation, color 143C on upper surface and 144A on lower            surface.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Blooming period.—As a floricane; mid-season in the United            Kingdom.        -   Inflorescence.—Panicle.        -   Peduncle.—Round in shape, color 144A, an average of 12 cm in            length and 2 mm in width, moderate in strength, glabrous            surface.        -   Pedicels.—Round in shape, color 144A, an average of 3.8 cm            in length and 1.5 mm in width, moderate in strength.        -   Flower type.—Rotate, single.        -   Flower number.—An average of 10.5 (measured at 3^(rd) node            from tip of lateral).        -   Flower diameter.—3.6 cm.        -   Petals.—Average of 8, an average of 1.8 cm in length and 1.2            cm in width, base cuneate, apex obtuse to acute, entire            margin with medium undulation, glabrous and matte on upper            and lower surfaces, 155C in color on both surfaces.-   Fruit description:    -   -   Productivity.—When grown in substrate; fruiting in second            year an average of 750 g/canes with 5 canes per pot.        -   Self-fruitfulness.—Self fruitful.        -   Fruit number.—An average of 11.6 per lateral cane.        -   Fruit size.—Medium-large, an average of 3.64 cm in length            and 2.15 cm in diameter, length/width ratio 1.7.        -   Fruit color.—144A when immature, N34A when maturing, and            203B when mature.        -   Fruit shape.—Oblong.        -   Number of duplets/fruit.—An average of 99.7.        -   Fruit surface.—Medium glossiness.        -   Fruit maturity date.—Mid season on floricanes.        -   Seed weight.—0.009 g/seed.        -   Cropping frequency.—Annually, every 3 weeks during the            fruiting season.        -   Harvest dates.—First date approximately June 25th and last            harvest date approximately August 2nd as grown in pots in            The United Kingdom.        -   Flavor.—Pleasant and sweet when ripe.        -   Fruit weight.—8.1 g/fruit.        -   Brix.—13°.        -   Titratable acid.—1.02 (% as citric acid).        -   Fruit firmness.—Firm.        -   Shelf life.—An average of 7 days after picking.        -   Market use.—Fresh fruit.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Blackberry plant named‘FNZ-8VB’ as herein illustrated and described.